Wireless wake-up device for cellular module

ABSTRACT

A control device may wake-up a target wireless device through a wired or wireless communications channel. In an implementation, the control device and the wireless device may include a cellular module (e.g., global systems for mobile communications (GSM) capability) to implement an on-demand wake-up call. The on-demand wake-up call may allow the control device to perform at least one task at the wireless device without user intervention at the wireless device.

BACKGROUND

When a mobile device with a cellular module, such as a smartphone, isnot in use, it remains in sleeping state, with an application processorin hibernation, and/or WiFi connection and/or cellular data channelswitched off to save power. Before a user may operate the cellulardevice, the cellular device needs to be awaken. In other words, thecellular device needs the application processor to be in active mode, orthe WiFi connection and/or the cellular data channel re-established.Currently, in-time notification delivery of updates is important, suchthat a conventional cellular device wakes up from sleep state every fewminutes to re-establish either the WiFi connection and/or the cellulardata channel to check updates. A drawback of this operation is a wasteof power in the cellular device, in the case of no updates that areactually present for the cellular device. For example, the cellulardevice is configured to wake up every few minutes even though the nextupdate or notification, such as an email message, will arrive after afew hours.

Accordingly, software and hardware solutions may be implemented toperform remote wireless wake-up on the wireless device to achieveon-time notification of updates with additional power savings in thewireless device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The detailed description is described with reference to accompanyingfigures. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference numberidentifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. Thesame numbers are used throughout the drawings to reference like featuresand components.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example network system implementingremote wake-up call in wireless devices with cellular module components.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example control device that iscapable of waking up target wireless devices.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example target wireless device thatis capable of receiving wake up calls.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of incoming call handlingoperations in a to-be-woken-up wireless device.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating an example method for remote wake-upcall in a to-be-woken-up wireless device with cellular module component.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A control device may include a cellular module (e.g., global systems formobile communications (GSM) capability) to wake-up a target wirelessdevice through a wired or wireless communications channel. In animplementation, the control device may include a control platform thatmanages interactions between the control device and the target wirelessdevice after the communications channel is established. For example, thecontrol platform in the control device may communicate with a taskscheduler component in the target wireless device to perform apre-configured task. The task scheduler component may reside on thetarget wireless device to perform the pre-configured task for aparticular wake-up call. In an implementation, pre-configured one ormore wake-up calls (e.g., identification numbers) are stored at thetarget wireless device as one or more caller identification numbers.Each caller identification number may respectively correspond to aparticular wake-up call. Similarly, each caller identification numbermay represent at least one scheduled task for the particular wake-upcall. In an implementation, the first wireless device initiates (i.e.,dials) a wake-up call to the target wireless device that filters whetherthe wake-up call is a regular/ordinary incoming voice call, or one ofthe stored caller identification numbers. If the wake-up call is one ofthe caller identification numbers, then the target wireless device mayperform at least one scheduled task(s) that corresponds to the calleridentification number. In certain implementations, the wake-up call mayallow the device to remotely manage and control operations of the targetwireless device.

In the following detailed descriptions, numerous specific details areset forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention.However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the artthat the present invention may be practiced without these specificdetails. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, componentsand circuits have not been described in detail so as not to obscure thepresent invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example system 100 that employs on-demand wake-upcalls between devices. In an implementation, the system 100 may includea control device 102, a target wireless or wireless devices 104, a fixphone network 106, and Internet 108. In an implementation, the controldevice 102 and wireless devices 104 may establish communications throughthe fix phone network 106, or the Internet 108. Examples of such controldevice 102 may include wired devices such as, a server connected to theInternet 108 via an Ethernet cable, and wireless devices. Examples ofwireless devices 104 may include (but are not limited to) a mobilephone, a cellular phone, a smart-phone, a personal digital assistant, atablet computer, a netbook, a notebook computer, a laptop computer, amultimedia playback device, a digital music player, a digital videoplayer, a navigational device, a digital camera, and the like. In animplementation, the control device 102 may include a cellular module(not shown) and/or a WiFi and/or a fixed line module to establish thecommunications through a cellular network 110 or the fix phone network106 or the Internet 108. This may allow on-demand wake-up calls for thewireless devices 104 that may be geographically located far from eachother (as compared to WiFi wake-up call).

In an implementation, the control device 102 may establishcommunications with the wireless devices 104-2 and 104-4 using the fixphone network 106. In this implementation, a wired link 112 may connectthe control device 102 to the cellular network 110. The cellular network110 may connect the wired link 112 signal to the wireless devices 104through a wireless link (not shown).

In an implementation, the cellular module (not shown) at the controldevice 102 may use the cellular network 110 to connect with the wirelessdevices 104 through link 114. In other implementations, the controldevice 102 may use the Internet 108 to perform the on-demand wake-upcall. For example, the Internet 108 may use gateways or routers to linkthe control device 102 through wired or wireless links 116. In thisexample, the wired links 114 may establish wired communications usinginteract protocol (IP) to implement the on-demand wake-up call (e.g.,users may make wake-up calls to a target wireless device 104 via. Skype™or Google™ voice).

FIG. 2 is an example implementation of the control device 102 that maybe used to implement on-demand wake-up calls. The control device 102 mayinitiate an on-demand wake-up call to the wireless devices 104. In animplementation, the control device 102 may include a server that isconnected to the Internet 108 through an Ethernet cable, a WiFi or radiomodule 200 such as, a transmitter 202, a receiver 204 and one or moreantenna 206.

The control device 102 includes one or more processor(s) 208.Processor(s) 208 may be a single processing unit or a number ofprocessing units, all of which may include single or multiple computingunits or multiple cores. The processor 208 may be implemented as one ormore microprocessors, microcomputers, microcontrollers, digital signalprocessors, central processing units, state machines, logic circuitries,and/or any devices that manipulate signals based on operationalinstructions. Among other capabilities, the processor 208 may beconfigured to fetch and execute computer-readable instructions orprocessor-accessible instructions stored in a memory 210 or othercomputer-readable storage media.

In an implementation, the control device 102 may be configured toinclude a control platform 212 that manages or controls wired orwireless on-demand wake-up call by the control device 102 to a targetwireless device (e.g., wireless device 104). For example, the controlplatform 212 may include a wake-up caller 214 that is responsible forinitiating and making wake-up calls to the target wireless devices 104.The wake-up caller 214 may be pre-configured to include or store wake-upidentification numbers to perform a particular task at the targetwireless device 104. The wake-up identification number may include aunique identification number for each particular task or tasks that auser at the control device 102 would like to perform at the targetwireless device 104. For example, a wake-up identification number “0001”may be pre-configured and stored at the wake-up caller 214 to open anemail picture attachment at the target wireless device 104. In thisexample, the user of the control device 102 may dial the target wirelessdevice's number and identify itself with “0001” (which could be done bysetting the calling number as 0001). After filtering of the wake-upidentification number at the target wireless device 104, the wirelessdevice 104 may directly open the email picture attachment without anyuser intervention from the wireless device 104. Furthermore, in thisexample, the wake-up identification number “0001” may be pre-configuredand stored at the target wireless device 104 as a caller identificationnumber. One or more caller identification numbers that are stored at thetarget wireless device 104 may correspond respectively to one or morewake-up identification numbers that are stored at the wake-up caller214. In an implementation, the caller identification number may bepre-configured to represent at least one scheduled task to be performedat the target wireless device 104. Alternatively, the target wirelessdevice 104 may only save a single caller identification number. Oncegetting a call from this number it will establish a WiFi, and/orcellular data connection with the control device and listen to furtherinstruction about what actions to perform.

In certain implementations, the memory component 210 is an example ofcomputer-readable storage media for storing instructions, which areexecuted by the processor(s) 208 to perform the various functionsdescribed above. For example, memory 210 may generally include bothvolatile memory and non-volatile memory (e.g., RAM, ROM, or the like).Memory 210 may be referred to as memory or computer-readable storagemedia herein. Memory 210 is capable of storing computer-readable,processor-executable program instructions as computer program code thatmay be executed by the processor(s) 208 as a particular machineconfigured fir carrying out the operations and functions described inthe implementations herein.

The example control device 102 described herein is merely an examplethat is suitable for some implementations and is not intended to suggestany limitation as to the scope of use or functionality of theenvironments, architectures and frameworks that may implement theprocesses, components and features described herein.

Generally, any of the functions described with reference to the figuresmay be implemented using software, hardware (e.g., fixed logiccircuitry) or a combination of these implementations. Program code maybe stored in one or more computer-readable memory devices or othercomputer-readable storage devices. Thus, the processes and componentsdescribed herein may be implemented by a computer program product. Asmentioned above, computer storage media includes volatile andnon-volatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in anymethod or technology for storage of information, such as computerreadable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data.Computer storage media includes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM,EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digitalversatile disks (DVD) or other optical storage, magnetic cassettes,magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices,or any other medium that may be used to store information for access bya computing device.

FIG. 3 is an example implementation of the target wireless device 104that may be used to implement on-demand wake-up calls. The targetwireless device 104 may receive the wake-up call, in an implementation,the wireless device 104 may include a cellular module 300 such as, atransmitter 302, a receiver 304 and one or more antenna 306. Thecellular module 300 may be configured to receive wake-up calls whilemoving around a geographic area, such as the geographic area for aparticular cellular network that uses the GSM standards.

The wireless device 104 includes one or more processor(s) 308.Processor(s) 308 may be a single processing unit or a number ofprocessing units, all of which may include single or multiple computingunits or multiple cores. The processor 308 may be implemented as one ormore microprocessors, microcomputers, microcontrollers, digital signalprocessors, central processing units, state machines, logic circuitries,and/or any devices that manipulate signals based on operationalinstructions. Among other capabilities, the processor 308 may beconfigured to fetch and execute computer-readable instructions orprocessor-accessible instructions stored in a memory 310 or othercomputer-readable storage media. The computer-readable instructions orprocessor-accessible instructions may be used by the processor 308 toprocess data such as, guiding or linking the received wake-up calls inthe cellular module 300 to the memory 310.

In an implementation, the target wireless device 104 may receive theincoming wake-up call. In this implementation, the wireless device 104may be pre-configured to receive the wake-up call from the controldevice 102 that initiates and makes the wake-up call through a controlplatform (not shown). The wake-up call may include an identificationnumber stored as the caller identification number at the wireless device104. The caller identification number may include the wake-up callreceived by the target wireless device 104-2 to perform a particulartask. In an implementation, the first wireless device 104 may include anincoming call analyzer 312 configured to identify whether the incomingwake-up call is a regular number for incoming voice calls, or one of thestored and pre-configured caller identification numbers. For example,the incoming call analyzer 312 through a basic comparison algorithm maydetermine, if the incoming wake-up call identification number (e.g.,“0001”) is included in the stored pre-configured caller identificationnumbers at the target wireless device 104. In an implementation, thebasic comparison algorithm may be an application that compares dataidentification of the incoming wake-up call and the calleridentification number. If the incoming wake-up call identificationnumber is included in the caller identification numbers, then thewireless device 104 may perform pre-configured or scheduled task(s) forthe incoming wake-up call through a task scheduler 314.

When the wireless device 104 receives an incoming call, the wirelessdevice 104 may automatically launch an “incoming call” interface toalert the user with options to answer or reject the incoming call. Inorder to enable the wireless device 104 to perform other tasks, andbefore the “incoming call” interface is launched, the incoming callanalyzer 312 filters the incoming call. If the incoming call matches oneof the stored caller identification numbers in the wireless device 104,then the incoming call analyzer 312 may not launch the regular incomingcall interface and instead, directs the task scheduler 314 to perform apre-configured task. The task scheduler 314 may perform thepre-configured task(s) represented by a particular caller identificationnumber that corresponds to the incoming call in the above example.Furthermore, the task scheduler 314 may communicate with the controlplatform 312 of the control device 102 in performing the pre-configuredtask. In other implementations, the task scheduler 314 may allow remotemanagement or control of the target wireless device 104 without userintervention from the target wireless device 104.

In certain implementations, the memory component 310 is an example ofcomputer-readable storage media for storing instructions, which areexecuted by the processor(s) 308 to perform the various functionsdescribed above. For example, memory 310 may generally include bothvolatile memory and non-volatile memory (e.g., RAM, ROM, or the like).Memory 310 may be referred to as memory or computer-readable storagemedia herein. Memory 310 is capable of storing computer-readable,processor-executable program instructions as computer program code thatmay be executed by the processor(s) 308 as a particular machineconfigured for carrying out the operations and functions described inthe implementations herein.

The example wireless device 104 described herein is merely an examplethat is suitable for some implementations and is not intended to suggestany limitation as to the scope of use or functionality of theenvironments, architectures and frameworks that may implement theprocesses, components and features described herein.

Generally, any of the functions described with reference to the figuresmay be implemented using software, hardware (e.g., fixed logiccircuitry) or a combination of these implementations. Program code maybe stored in one or more computer-readable memory devices or othercomputer-readable storage devices. Thus, the processes and componentsdescribed herein may be implemented by a computer program product. Asmentioned above, computer storage media includes volatile andnon-volatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in anymethod or technology for storage of information, such as computerreadable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data.Computer storage media includes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM,EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digitalversatile disks (DVD) or other optical storage, magnetic cassettes,magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices,or any other medium that may be used to store information for access bya computing device.

Example Incoming-Call Handling Call Operation

FIG. 4 shows an example process chart illustrating an example wake-upoperation 400 at the wireless device 104. The order in which the methodis described is not intended to be construed as a limitation, and anynumber of the described method blocks may be combined in any order toimplement the method, or alternate method. Additionally, individualblocks may be deleted from the method without departing from the spiritand scope of the subject matter described herein. Furthermore, themethod may be implemented in any suitable hardware, software, firmware,or a combination thereof, without departing from the scope of theinvention. For example, at least one computer accessible medium mayperform the method described below

At block 402, a wireless device is at sleeping state. In animplementation, the wireless device (e.g., wireless device 104) thatacts as a target wireless device is kept at sleeping state until anupdate is available.

At block 404, determining a wake-up caller in the wireless device 104 isperformed. In an implementation, the wireless device 104 is awoken by anincoming wake-up call. When the incoming wake-up call (e.g., update)from a control device (e.g., control device 102) is trying to establishcommunications with the wireless device 104, the incoming wake-up callis filtered by the wireless device 104. In other words, if the incomingwake-up call is one of the stored caller identification numbers in thetarget wireless device, following the YES branch of block 404, block 406is performed. At block 406, the task schedules are performed.

Otherwise following the NO branch of block 404, at block 408, acceptingor rejecting the incoming regular call is performed. In animplementation, a user of the wireless device 104 may accept or rejectthe incoming regular call. If the user does not accept the wake up call,following the NO branch of block 408, block 402 is performed, where thewireless device goes back to sleeping state.

Otherwise, following the YES branch of block 408, at block 410, the userof accepts the incoming regular call. The wireless device is in talkingstate upon acceptance by the user of the incoming regular call.

At block 412 a determination is made as to terminating of call talkingstate is performed in the wireless device. If the call isterminated/finished, following the YES branch of block 412, the wirelessdevice goes to sleeping state. Otherwise, following the NO branch ofblock 412, block 410 is performed.

FIG. 5 shows an example process chart illustrating an example method forremote wireless wake-up of a wireless device. The order in which themethod is described is not intended to be construed as a limitation, andany number of the described method blocks may be combined in any orderto implement the method, or alternate method. Additionally, individualblocks may be deleted from the method without departing from the spiritand scope of the subject matter described herein. Furthermore, themethod may he implemented in any suitable hardware, software, firmware,or a combination thereof, without departing from the scope of theinvention. For example, at least one computer accessible medium mayperform the method described below.

At block 502, pre-configuring a target wireless device to receive awake-up call is performed. In an implementation, the target wirelessdevice (e.g., wireless device 104) may be pre-configured to receive thewake-up call from a control device (e.g., control device 102). In thisimplementation, caller identification numbers may be stored at thetarget wireless device 104. The caller identification numbers mayinclude identifications of the wake-up calls that may be received by thetarget wireless device 104 to perform a particular task or tasks. Forexample, an incoming call analyzer component (e.g., incoming callanalyzer 312) at the wireless device 104 may be configured to identifyor filter which incoming wake-up call number is a regular number forincoming voice calls, or a caller identification number for apre-configured task. In this example, the incoming call analyzer 312through a basic comparison algorithm may determine if the incomingwake-up call (data) identification is contained or included in thestored pre-configured caller identification numbers at the first ortarget wireless device.

At block 504, receiving the incoming wake-up call by the first or targetwireless device is performed. In an implementation, the first or targetwireless device may receive the incoming wake-up call through cellularmodule components (e.g., cellular module 300) of the first or targetwireless device. In this implementation, the received wake-up call maybe directed by the incoming call analyzer to a task scheduler interface(e.g., task scheduler 314) rather than being accepted by a user of thefirst or target wireless device. Similarly, the received wake-up callmay be directed by the incoming call analyzer to connect to a WiFicomputer network. The connection to the WiFi computer network may allowthe first or target wireless device to perform scheduled task or tasksthat may require WiFi connection (e.g., email message update in a laptapcomputer).

At block 506, performing pre-configured task is performed. In animplementation, the first or target wireless device may include the taskscheduler 314 to perform the at least one task that is stored andpre-configured for the caller identification number corresponding to thereceived wake-up call. The task scheduler 314 may execute thepre-configured task(s) by itself, or by hooking up with another softwarethat may be used to implement the pre-configured task(s). For example,the first or target wireless device receives a wake-up call number“0002,” in this example, the wake-up call number “0002” may bepre-configured as a caller identification number at the first or targetwireless device to represent a certain application (e.g., Yahoo™messenger) that includes opening of video and phone conversations. Whenthe first or target wireless device receives the wake-up call number“0002,” the first or target wireless device may execute or open theYahoo™ messenger task through the task scheduler. In another example, acall number “0003” may be pre-configured as the caller identificationnumber that represents execution of a virus scan operation at the firstor target wireless device. The virus scan operation may be implementedby software that is provided to the task scheduler to perform the virusscan operation. Alternatively the target wireless device 104 may onlysave a single caller identification number. Once getting a call fromthis number it will establish a WiFi, and/or cellular data connectionwith the control device and listen to further instruction about whatactions to perform, in other implementations, a user at the first ortarget wireless device need not accept the incoming wake-up call toperform the pre-configured task(s). In other words, the first or targetwireless device may be managed and remotely controlled by the second orcalling wireless device.

Realizations in accordance with the present invention have beendescribed in the context of particular embodiments. These embodimentsare meant to be illustrative and not limiting. Many variations,modifications, additions, and improvements are possible, Accordingly;plural instances may be provided for components described herein as asingle instance. Boundaries between various components, operations anddata stores are somewhat arbitrary, and particular operations areillustrated in the context of specific illustrative configurations.Other allocations of functionality are envisioned and may fall withinthe scope of claims that follow. Finally, structures and functionalitypresented as discrete components in the various configurations may beimplemented as a combined structure or component. These and othervariations, modifications, additions, and improvements may fall withinthe scope of the invention as defined in the claims that follow.

1-24. (canceled)
 25. A wireless device, comprising: a cellular modulecomprising a transmitter and a receiver; and one or more processorscoupled to the cellular module, the one or more processors to: determinea caller identification number associated with a call to be receivedthrough the receiver; analyze the caller identification number todetermine a predetermined task associated with the caller identificationnumber; and perform, rather than launch an incoming call interface thatallows a user to accept or reject the call in the wireless device, thepredetermined task associated with the caller identification number. 26.The wireless device of claim 25, wherein the predetermined taskcomprises a wake-up or activation of one or more functions of the one ormore processors.
 27. The wireless device of claim 25, wherein the callto be received through the receiver is a wake-up call.
 28. The wirelessdevice of claim 25, wherein the predetermined task comprises executionof a messenger task.
 29. The wireless device of claim 25, wherein thepredetermined task comprises an automatic launch of an application onthe target wireless device.
 30. The wireless device of claim 29, whereinthe application is selected from a group comprising an emailapplication, a messenger application, a photo application, a videoapplication, and a virus scan application.
 31. The wireless device ofclaim 25, wherein the wireless device is selected from one of a mobilephone, a cellular phone, a smart-phone, a personal digital assistant, atablet computer, a netbook, a notebook computer, a laptop computer, amultimedia playback device, a digital music player, a digital videoplayer, a navigational device, or a digital camera.
 32. A method,comprising: configuring a target wireless device to: determine a calleridentification number associated with a call to be received at thetarget wireless device; analyze the caller identification number todetermine a predetermined task associated with the caller identificationnumber; and perform, rather than launch an incoming call interface thatallows a user to accept or reject the call in the target wirelessdevice, the predetermined task associated with the caller identificationnumber.
 33. The method of claim 32, wherein the predetermined taskcomprises a wake-up or activation of one or more functions of the one ormore processors of the target wireless device.
 34. The method of claim32, wherein the predetermined task comprises execution of a messengertask.
 35. The method of claim 32, wherein the predetermined taskcomprises an automatic launch of an application on the target wirelessdevice.
 36. The method of claim 35, wherein the application is selectedfrom a group comprising an email application, a messenger application, aphoto application, a video application, and a virus scan application.37. At least one computer-readable storage medium having stored thereoninstructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause theone or more processors to perform operations comprising: configure atarget wireless device to determine a caller identification numberassociated with a call to be received at the target wireless device;analyze, at the target wireless device, the caller identification numberto determine a predetermined task associated with the calleridentification number; and perform, at the target wireless device, thepredetermined task associated with the caller identification numberrather than launch an incoming call interface that allows a user toaccept or reject the call in the target wireless device.
 38. The atleast one computer-readable storage medium of claim 37, wherein thepredetermined task comprises a wake-up or activation of one or morefunctions of the one or more processors of the target wireless device.39. The at least one computer-readable storage medium of claim 37,wherein the call to be received at the target wireless device is awake-up call.
 40. The at least one computer-readable storage medium ofclaim 37, wherein the predetermined task comprises execution of amessenger task.
 41. The at least one computer-readable storage medium ofclaim 37, wherein the predetermined task comprises activation of thetarget wireless device to establish a WiFi or cellular data connection.42. The at least one computer-readable storage medium of claim 41,wherein the predetermined task further comprises receive, through theWiFi or cellular data connection, further instructions or actions forthe target wireless device to perform.
 43. The at least onecomputer-readable storage medium of claim 37, wherein the operationsfurther configure the target wireless device to perform thepredetermined task comprises by a hook to another software.
 44. The atleast one computer-readable storage medium of claim 37, wherein thepredetermined task comprises an on-demand task that is managed andcontrolled remotely by a control device.
 45. The at least onecomputer-readable storage medium of claim 37, wherein the predeterminedtask comprises an update of the target wireless device.
 46. The at leastone computer-readable storage medium of claim 37, wherein thepredetermined task comprises an automatic launch of an application onthe target wireless device.
 47. The at least one computer-readablestorage medium of claim 46, wherein the application is selected from agroup comprising an email application, a messenger application, a photoapplication, a video application, and a virus scan application.
 48. Theat least one computer-readable storage medium of claim 37, wherein thecall is received at the target wireless device using a global system formobile communications (GSM) standard.
 49. A method, comprising:determining a caller identification number associated with a call;analyzing the caller identification number to determine a predeterminedtask associated with the caller identification number; and performing,rather than launching an incoming call interface that allows a user toaccept or reject the call, the predetermined task associated with thecaller identification number.
 50. The method of claim 49, wherein thepredetermined task comprises a wake-up or activation of one or morefunctions of a wireless device.
 51. The method of claim 49, wherein thecall comprises a wake-up call.
 52. The method of claim 49, wherein thepredetermined task comprises execution of a messenger task.
 53. Themethod of claim 49, wherein the predetermined task comprises anautomatic launch of an application on a wireless device.
 54. The methodof claim 53, wherein the application is selected from a group comprisingan email application, a messenger application, a photo application, avideo application, and a virus scan application.